There are several different types of fences: Security, high visibility, crowd control and safety fences, though in some cases the same type of fencing may be used for different purposes. Some examples of the uses of temporary fences are:

At concerts as a crowd barrier to keep the audience from jumping onto the stageTo protect high value objects and people inside the perimeter such as at construction sites (sometimes called construction hoarding) or at conferencesKeeping people out of unauthorized areasTo provide partial protection of the environment from acts such as littering, unintentional human destruction of an ecosystem and limiting human access to areas inhabited by endangered species.For use on farms to corral animals and mark property linesSecurity fences are sturdy, usually made of high-density plastic, PVC, or steel, which keeps unwanted visitors out. They can be used at, but are not limited to, conferences such as the G20 Summit to protect delegates, on military bases to keep out unauthorized access, and to limit the movement of protesters in a demonstration.